What is constipation?
Constipation is a disorder of the digestive tract. It is when something goes wrong with the process of excretion and you are not able to pass stools regularly and easily. There are many causes for this like inadequate intake of water, low fiber in diet, conditions like pregnancy, breastfeeding and old age, as well as certain types of medication can cause or aggravate this condition. Some eating disorders like bulimia can also lead to this condition where the body gets used to laxatives to pass stools.
Ayurvedic reasons for constipation
Ayurveda is a very old system of medication that originated in India. It gives some explanation on the causes of constipation in terms of imbalances in Doshas in the body. (Doshas are body types and there are three such Doshas, each one being governed by two of the five basic elements).
The digestive system is governed by Vata Dosha, which is the most important of the three Doshas. A predominance or an aggravation of this Dosha leads to disturbances in the digestive tract and can lead to constipation. Most individuals who are governed by this Dosha generally have constipation at some point of time, either mild or severe, acute or chronic. Diet also plays a very important role in determining your health.
Some of the causes of constipation stated in Ayurveda:
- Low fiber foods
- Lack of water and dehydration
- Lots of dry foods
- Irregular meal timings
- Excessive intake of coffee, tea and cold carbonated beverages
- Age
- Insomnia
- Smoking and alcohol
- Stress and tension
- Constant fear or guilt
- Nervous system imbalances
These are some of the common causes listed in Ayurveda for the problem of constipation. These lead to bodily imbalances as well as changes in the normal balance of the three Doshas, leading to improper functioning of the digestive tract and the whole body.
